Nagpur: Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (MPSRTC) which connects many part of MP to Nagpur is now gradually shifting gears to bring its services to a grind halt. Both services and buses of MPSRTC on MP bus stand here were pulling off the service and facilities are turning from bad to worse.
When Nagpur was the capital of Madhya Pradesh justifying the presence of Zero Mile Stone in Nagpur, a transport services under the name of Central Provinces Transport Services (CPTS) established somewhere in 1956, used to operate for the passenger’s travel to different locations of Madhya Pradesh. Around 16000 employees used to be employed with CPTS.
However, when the Nagpur was merged with Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh became another state, CPTS got converted into the Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (MPSRTC). Out of the 16000 employees of CPTS, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation got 13000 employees. But the 13000 employees of MPSRTC are now reduced to a bare minimum of only 500 employees.
MPSRTC pulling out onus of running inter-state transit services
While speaking exclusively with Nagpur Today, In-Charge of MPSRTC Bus Stand Devendra Rana said that the MPSRTC is in the process of winding-up of their operations from all over Madhya Pradesh. The reason cited is that the Madhya Pradesh Government is transferring the onus of running transport services to the local Municipal Corporations. As far as the Inter-State Transport services are concerned, the Madhya Pradesh Government has permitted Private Bus Operators to operate. This includes inter-state transport services to Nagpur too.
Neglect of Nagpur Bus Stand of MPSRTC
Nagpur once had a Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation Depot and a Bus Stand next to the Nagpur Railway Station with logistics in view. Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation used to run services right till 2000. However, after that there was a general neglect by the officials and authorities of Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation. This caused the Bus services to deteriorate too. Slowly they closed down their Bus Depot (where the buses used to get serviced and repaired) and later they pulled back even their own Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation buses. They started issuing permits to Private Bus Operators to start inter-state transport services from various parts of Madhya Pradesh to Nagpur.
In 1956, the Madhya Pradesh Government acquired the land (on which the Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation Bus Stand and the Depot is situated) from the Ministry of Defence through a deed. With that in mind, the Madhya Pradesh Government is still holding onto the Bus Stand and the depot. Presently the Depot is used for parking the buses of Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation, while the MPSRTC Bus Stand is used by private bus operators to run buses to various destinations.
Buses transport passengers to 10 places in Madhya Pradesh.
- Chhindwara with a ticket cost of Rs 120/-
- Piparia with a ticket cost of Rs 250/-
- Pachmarhi with a ticket cost of Rs 300/-
- Berdi with a ticket cost of Rs 130/-
- Shivni with a ticket cost of Rs 130/-
- Jabalpur with a ticket cost of Rs 260/-
- Balaghat with a ticket cost of Rs 200/-
- Mandla with a ticket cost of Rs 250/-
- Sagar and with a ticket cost of Rs 360/-
10. Narsinghpur. with a ticket cost of Rs 240/-
As of date apart from the In-Charge of Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation Bus Stand Devendra Rana, around 4-5 more employees are stationed here in Nagpur. Rana said that they too will be called back soon.
While speaking about the poor or deplorable condition of the Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation Bus Stand, In-Charge Devendra Rana said that they do not receive any funds for the upkeep of the Bus Stand. With the little that they are able to muster from the Private Bus Operators, they are ensuring some sort of cleanliness in the premises. They are trying and keeping the toilets clean and get the premises swept every morning.
Some of the private Bus Operators on condition of anonymity said that the condition of state run buses and the bus-stands in various parts of Madhya Pradesh are more deplorable than what it is in Nagpur. No standards are maintained. Anyone can run any type of bus in any condition to and fro to Madhya Pradesh.
Why and how is it an eye sore to Nagpur citizens?
Earlier when the Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation operated their buss from the Nagpur Bus Stand situated near the Nagpur Railway Station, the flyover was not built and the road was broad enough from the entry and exit of the buses. However, after the Flyover was built, the road from the Nagpur Railway Station to Loha Pul square became very narrow. When the buses from Madhya Pradesh approach the Nagpur Bus Stand, the drivers of Auto-rickshaws block the way by parking their Auto-rickshaws on the road. This entry and exit of MP buses practically block the way. Then whenever there is a festival in the Ganesh Tekdi Temple, the devotees who come by cars block the smooth flow of the traffic on the road.
Should the local government shift Nagpur Bus Stand of MPSRTC
Since the Nagpur Bus Stand of Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation is causing traffic problems and is slowly deteriorating to poorer standards even for the passengers who wish to travel to various destinations in Madhya Pradesh, will it not be wise for the local administration to allocate a difference location for Nagpur bus stand for buses coming to the city from Madhya Pradesh?
Shifting the bus stand will help in the smooth flow of road traffic on the narrow stretch.
